Thursday, August 2, 2012

" Reports from three states today suggested an increase in swine-origin H3N2
influenza activity, with one human case confirmed in Hawaii and suspected human
cases cited in connection with county fairs in Ohio and Indiana.

The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) announced yesterday that a
case of variant H3N2 (H2N2v) was confirmed in a Maui resident who had possible
exposure to pigs.

In Ohio, state officials said preliminary test results pointed to
possible H3N2v in 10 people who had contact with swine at the Butler County
Fair, north of Cincinnati. Officials were awaiting further test results from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

And in Indiana—where four cases of H3N2v were reported last
week—both people and pigs were being tested in the wake of sickness among pigs
in the swine barn at the Monroe County Fair in Bloomington, according to state
officials and media reports."

" The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Wednesday that
241 cases of West Nile virus disease, including four deaths, have been reported
in 42 states so far this year.

This is the highest number of cases reported through the end of July since
2004. Almost 80 percent of the cases have been reported from three states -
Texas, Mississippi and Oklahoma.

"It is not clear why we are seeing more activity than in recent years," said
Marc Fischer, epidemiologist with CDC's Arboviral Diseases Branch. "Regardless
of the reasons for the increase, people should be aware of the West Nile virus
activity in their area and take action to protect themselves and their
family."

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

"In response to the outbreak of a severe form of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD), the Ministry of Health (MOH) has instructed all public health facilities to report mild and severe cases of HFMD among children.

Mild cases present with fever and blisters on the hands, feet and/or mouth. Such cases may be managed at home or at health centers or health posts. Most of these cases recover within 7-10 days. However, some children develop a severe disease characterized by fever with neurologic symptoms (such as vomiting, somnolence, convulsions or spasms) or respiratory symptoms (fast breathing or difficulty in breathing). These children have to be referred to hospitals for treatment.

"Children with any of the following signs: very high fever, vomiting, convulsions, spasms or difficulty breathing must be immediately brought to a hospital for diagnosis and treatment," Minister of Health H. E. Mam Bunheng advised parents.

Frequent washing of hands with soap and water, especially after touching any blisters or sores, before preparing food and eating, before feeding young infants, after using toilets and after cleaning children is encouraged.

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with UNICEF and WHO, is developing information and educational materials to inform the general public about the disease.

The investigation into the recently reported illnesses and deaths in Cambodia concluded that a severe form of hand, foot and mouth disease caused by enterovirus 71 (EV-71) was the cause in majority of the cases reported to the Ministry of Health.

Based on the investigation, a total of 78 cases were identified. These included the initial 62 cases reported by the Kantha Bopha hospital, and cases reported from other hospitals. Of these, the investigation focused on 61 cases that fitted the criteria used (the case definition).

The latest follow-up on these 61 cases indicate that 56 died and three recovered.

During the past week, 533 HFMD cases have been reported to the MOH from 17 of the 24 provinces and there have been nine confirmed cases of severe EV71 infection. Of the nine cases, three died, one recovered, five are still sick."